I have heard the rumors and seen the news coverage about the state holidays.  Let me assure that these are bargained issues and if the Legislature votes to change the holidays then they would have to bargain this issue with us.  I have written to Channel 22 news and tried to set them straight but who knows if they will tell our side.  I asked the question would Senator Knapik be willing to take the $5 million dollar savings and fund our contracts, reinvest in public higher education by hiring back some of the laid off employees and fill many of the positions that were lost during the last round of early retirement?  It is really easy to point the fingers at state workers when times are tough but we need to stand tough and remind them of all we  have lost in the last 10 years- higher health premiums and co-pays, cost of living increases that don't keep up with the cost of living and more work with less staff just to name a few.  It's our job to educate John Q Public and talk to our neighbors and families so they know that working for the state isn't like working for the gravy train.

     Stop and Shop employees will be going on strike March 5th at noon unless the company comes back to the table and bargains in good faith.  I ask all of you to consider not crossing the picket lines should this occur.  Bring your business elsewhere and send a message to the company that continues to make billions in profits and want's their employees to pay more for health care and to short change them in salary increases.  I personally would join the line before I ever crossed one.  Thank you for considering this. 

Solidarity forever,

Donna

     The union was notified last week along with ten of our members in Print Services that one of them was being laid off and the others are to have their hours reduced to 80% time.  I met with the affected members on Tuesdayand we will be requesting information from the University to help deal with this situation.  Thus far the University has followed the contact and they are citing the reason for the layoffs as follows: Layoff notices were given to the following USA/MTA employees in Print Services.  This action is being taken due to declining revenues caused by declining volume of print jobs for Print Services.   They also say that should the volume of work increase then they will try to restore the employees hours. Our union brothers and sisters are being harmed and we can help avoid this from happening.  For those of you who have the opportunity please consider sending your print jobs to Print Services here on campus.  I understand that they will match prices from oustide vendors and I recommend you call and have a conversation with members over there.  I have recently heard some disturbing news that folks are being told not to use Print Services because they don't do a good job, this is totally not true.  I have used their services now for years and they have improved tremendously and I know many areas on campus that do use them.  Please spread the word about the travesty that is happening here on a public university campus.  Remember that an injury to one is an injury to all and they could be coming after your job next.  If you have any questions or comments please contact me or feel free to start a blog on this website on this issue. 

In solidarity,

Donna

So you are all invited on February 5th from 12-1:30 in CC 101 to come join us and have a discussion about how we can solve some of the deficits we face.  I am hoping that those who come will be there to come up with creative ways to change things and not to point the finger at those who have graciously come to work with us.  I firmly believe that if we anger our elected officials they will tune us out and we will never resolve the issues we all face.  So if you want to be part of the solution and not the problem come join us on the 5th and let's try to change the state we are in.  If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me or call my cell.

 USA members,

Paul Toner, vice-President of the MTA, is a trustee on the Group Insurance Commission representing labor and despite his best efforts to veto any changes the following has happened:

Mid-year plan design changes.  I am disappointed to report that at the GIC meeting this morning, the Commission voted to make the plan-design changes. These deductibles and co-pays will be effective on February 1, 2010, and each enrollee will be notified about the changes in advance.  These changes will not apply to enrollees participating in the Medicare supplemental plans, but will apply to all other GIC plans.  Because of these changes, premiums will be reduced and enrollees will see a slight decrease in their share of the premium costs.    The Commonwealth’s Health Savings Account enrollment period is extended until 12/4 and state employees can increase their contributions in light of these changes.  The “savings” generated by this cost-shift was reported to be about 18.8 million dollars; short of the projected deficit of 35 million dollars.  

Paul Toner

So, as you can see the timeline for the health savings account has been extended and I encourage all of you to take a look at joining or increasing your totals.  Clearly this is yet another example of the Commonwealth balancing their budget on our backs.  And further evidence that we need to talk to our legislators about raising revenues here in the Commonwealth.  Please send an email or call your area legislators and tell them we need them to do their jobs and to raise revenues, starting with raising the state income tax back to 5.95% and gently remind them that balancing the budget on the backs of state employees is not acceptable.

On a brighter note I would like to take a moment to wish all of you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving. While times are tough all over we can be thankful for what we do have, our families, our friends, food on our tables, and our health.  So take some time this Thanksgiving holiday to thank someone you love and as always please say a great big thanks to our men and women who are serving in the armed forces to protect us all. 

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving,

Donna

In solidarity,

Donna

Donna Johnson

In solidarity, Donna

This meeting apparently was a component of the Governor’s strategy following his announcement that the recalculation of tax revenue required by October 15 was projected as $600 million short during this budget year.  In his announcement and reported in all the newspapers was a projection that 2,000 jobs would have to be eliminated by the first of the year.

You have also read that he was going to reach out to the unions to explore cost saving measures including furloughs.  During yesterday’s meeting the Governor’s representative outlined what he was seeking as a “concept”.  The following is that concept.

• To delay the effective date of our yet to be funded contracts by one year, with the caveat that, if revenue targets improve, the effective date could be six months earlier (January 2011, e.g. for those with contracts starting July 1, 2009) and to work together to have them funded.  No hard proposal about targets was provided. 

• Governor’s commitment not to pursue increases in health care premium splits or co-pays from now until the end of FY 11.

• Governor’s commitment “to the highest degree possible” that any concessions would offset layoffs.

• Negotiated mandatory furloughs with the knowledge that even with furloughs there will be layoffs.  There was no mention of how many days.

• That the administration is open to any other ideas for cost savings in a restructured contract.

In closing we were told that there will be no unit that will not be affected.

We have no idea what the University is proposing to do in response to the A&F's presentation and we are not prepared to agree with anything at this time. I'd like to encourage all of you to contact your legislators and tell them they need to raise revenues to stop these cuts.  I have heard from several of you with your concerns and I want to assure you that I am working to be proactive and as always I will communicate what I know and can substantiate when I know it.  Please feel free to contact me with your concerns.

In solidarity,
Donna Johnson
President

Last week the presidents of the UMass unions were called to a meeting in President Wilson's office in Boston where we were briefed on the problems facing the university for FY10 should there be additional 9C cuts from the Governor and the devastating cuts expected for FY11 unless revenues are increased. If the state had kept the income tax rate at 5.95%, rather than reducing it to 5.3%, an additional $9 billion could have tucked away in the past 6 years, an amount equal to the two year revenue loss the state is currently experiencing. It is the most progressive way to raise revenues because the more you make the more you pay so the middle class is not burdened with the brunt of taxes. Our legislators are fearful of raising taxes as they say that voters don't want them to raise taxes, well no one wants to pay more taxes but the reality is that without all of us paying our fair share then some of us could possibly lose our jobs. The Massachusetts FY10 budget signed by the Governor provides enough money to nearly level fund UMass for the coming year (unless there are further 9C cuts). To achieve that funding, nearly ALL of the federal stimulus money was used, leaving almost none for next year. Unless there is more revenue in the state, we are facing serious budget problems one year from now (potentially $25 million or more). In addition to saving jobs by raising revenues we would be able to help save the social services that many of us rely upon for our elder parents and in some cases for our families. In the upcoming months we are going to be meeting with our area legislators and hope to have them to one of our membership meetings so you can tell them your stories but don't wait for that to be coordinated feel free to call your legislators and talk to them about raising revenues by starting with the income tax rate. If we all work together to resolve the problems our state faces then maybe we can do our part in keeping UMass alive and our coworkers employed. I have always tried to keep you informed without being an alarmist but right now things are so tentative that I feel it is important that we be vocal advocates for revenue corrections in the state. The jobs we save may be our own, I know many of you will disagree with raising revenues but I truly believe that this is the price we have to pay to live in this Commonwealth. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

In solidarity,

Donna Johnson

President USA

Donna Johnson

President, USA

413-545-4862- office

413-427-3867- cell

If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking,eventually you'll make progress. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/barackobam168698.html> BarackObama

Many of you have called me to complain about the traffic this morning trying to get to campus. I personally had a nightmare of a time to get here and called the Selectman's office but they will not take our calls. They ask that we write to the Public works folks and I encourage you to send an email to: publicworks@amherstma.gov , I believe they need to hear from everyone affected by their changes. Please feel free to write and let them know if you are unhappy. Thanks for bringing this issue to my attention.

Donna Johnson
President
University Staff Association
413-545-4862- work
413-427-3867- cell